The Anza Trail and the Settling of California

Vladimir Guerrero

The epic true story of the journey to colonize San Francisco

In 1774, the Spanish viceroy of Mexico sent Juan Bautista de Anza, captain of the Presidio at Tubac (in what is now Arizona), to lead two expeditions: the first to find a safe overland route to Monterey, and the second to return Anza to California with 240 men, women, and children to establish a settlement in San Francisco.

The Anza Trail and the Settling of California synthesizes firsthand documents and diaries from the Anza expeditions to retell the story of the exploration of the Southwest and the settlement of the San Francisco Bay Area. But it also tells, on a more personal level, the story of four very different characters—Anza, the criollo commander; his partner, Francisco Garcés, a Spanish priest and explorer; Sebastían Tarabal, a Native American and accidental guide; and Salvador Palma, chief of the Yuma nation-men who overcame and in many cases benefited from their differences to ensure the success of the expeditions.

Heyday Books gratefully acknowledges the support of the National Park Service in the publication of this book.

Vladimir Guerrero has taught Spanish language and literature at the University of California, Davis, the University of Oslo, and Michigan State University. His publications include academic articles on medieval literature as well as short fiction. The Anza Trail and the Settling of California is his first book.